Graphic Novel Review of Loki Agent of Asgard Vol. 1: Trust Me by Al Ewing

 

Synopsis: "Kid Loki's all grown up - and the God of Mischief is stronger, smarter, sexier and just plain sneakier than ever before. As Asgardia's one-man secret service, he's ready to lie, cheat, steal, bluff and snog his way through the twistiest, turniest and most treacherous missions the All-Mother can throw at him...starting with a heart-stopping heist on Avengers Tower! And that's just the beginning, as Loki takes on Lorelei in Monte Carlo's casinos, and heads back to the dawn of Asgard to join its greatest heroes on a quest for a certain magical sword! But when Loki puts together a crew to crack the deepest dungeons of Asgardia itself, there may be one plot twist too many for even Loki to handle!"

My Review: I was so looking forward to this but was pretty disappointed. I wasn't really a fan of the art (or at least the depictions of Loki) and the storyline was all over the place, one page we are in the now, then we are previously and the way in the past and then back in the now/future, it gets a little annoying. It also ties in to a lot of other comics (especially the Avengers) which might be great for some people but for those just starting to branch into this area, not so much. I don't want to have to go back and read all of those past issues in order to understand and enjoy this one.

 

My Rating: This wasn't my favorite, it had too many references to other comics and very little of actual myths.  I give it a rating of Two Paws.

Bedtime Story: Astronauts by Charlotte Guillian

Read for: Children's Book Challenge & Munchkin wants to be one ;)

 

Synopsis: "Read this book to find out about space exploration. Books in this series introduce children to outer space. Each book uses simple, repetitive text to teach children basic vocabulary, and includes stunning photographs and artwork to show the main features of our Solar System. In Astronauts, children learn about how people travel into space, what life is like for astronauts in space, and discoveries astronauts have made."

My Review: This is a most basic introduction to astronauts and space. It would be great for a first level beginning readers or as a picture book. The sentences are extremely simple. Munchkin loves this book, it was the first non-fiction, age appropriate book we found about astronauts and it was exactly what we were looking for. It has pictures instead of illustrations and is full of simple facts about astronauts and what they do in space. It also includes a brief glossary for new words and a few websites to continue to answer little curious future astronaut's questions.

 

My Rating: It took some searching but it was great to finally find this book, it was so perfect and exactly what we were looking for, something non-fiction and about astronauts. We have read this book so many times, and he even makes people visiting read it with him. We give this book a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

 

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Beginning Reader Review of Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon by Judy Donnelly

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

 

Synopsis: "Illus. in full color & full-color photos. "The story of Apollo II's historic flight, from lift-off, through 'The Eagle has landed,' to splashdown and quarantine. Donnelly does a good job of setting the stage with chapters on the history of the idea of flight to the moon, astronaut selection and training, and look at the flight's effect on people in general."--School Library Journal."


My Review: Munchkin is huge into astronauts and he doesn't like the make believe stories that are more appropriate for his age, so we have resorted to more advanced books. This was a good one, it was a non fiction but it was written in a way to make it entertaining too. I am not sure how I feel about having a level 5 step into reading book, because I would imagine by this point the kids will be reading regular books, but it could be a good introduction to chapters and less pictures.

 

My Rating: I really liked the idea of a non-fiction early reader book, and even though this is way beyond Munchkin, he was thoroughly involved in this book. It does seem as if readers who are at this level might prefer a regular book over this one but that is just my opinion. I do however give it a rating of Four Paws.

Review of Sonnets by Charles Gerard Timm

Read for: Requested Review

 

 

Synopsis: "The sonnet is the most useful and, arguably, the most-popular poetic form in English. Long-lived, brief, fashioned by rhyme, sharing private contemplation at its best. Here are thirty-three such momentary monuments."


My Review: This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. I do miss reading poetry so I was very happy when Timm contacted me about this book. It took me a few pages to get the rhythm of sonnets and poetry back but once I did the flow of this book is beautiful. I really enjoyed how each sonnet could be read on its own or as a whole book. It tells a complete story of love, admiration and unrequited love. It definitely pulled some emotions from me and spoke to me, that is of course the true test of poetry, if it can speak to the reader and their emotions.

 

My Rating: It did take me a bit to get into this book but I think that was more of my fault for not reading poetry as often as I should, that aside it was very enjoyable and approachable for even those who don't read poetry. I would love to see something from Timm that I could relate to even more.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

Review of Daughter of Earth and Sky by Kaitlin Bevis

Read for: NetGalley/ Requested Review

 

Synopsis: "Some vows can never be broken, especially with you've recently found out you’re a goddess.

In the flick of a eyelash Persephone has gone from being a high school junior in Athens, Georgia to the wife of Hades, god of the Underworld. Under his platonic protection, she’s waiting for springtime, when Boreas, the sinister god of winter, will stop stalking her.

But even Hades can’t keep Boreas and his minions from threatening her. Finally she escaped back to the world of the living. Maybe she can just go back to normal—and forget that she’s fallen in love with Hades.

She’s wrong.


Thanatos—a friend from the Underworld, has betrayed her. Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades.

And then there’s Aphrodite, the gorgeous goddess who was born among the ocean waves with more charm than she can control. Persephone’s dearest ally, Melissa, is furious and jealous when Aphrodite starts winning Persephone’s friendship. Persephone turns to a human boy for friendship. But will their relationship put him in danger?

Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could lose that life and Hades, too.

But either way, she may not survive her father’s schemes. After all, she’s Zeus’s daughter."


My Review: This was a book received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. After reading the first book in this series I was a little curious where Bevis would take it. I enjoyed some of the new twists thrown into the tradition myths, ie. how Aphrodite came to be and be so disliked by the other gods and goddesses. I did find this book a little bit slow, not a whole lot happens and most of the book Persephone is confused. I still found Persephone to be a little immature but she did start to develop and learn. I enjoyed the tradition of gods and goddesses not being able to like and having to keep promises in work throughout the book. I did feel like the conclusion was a little predictable with all the very clear hits that were dropped throughout the book, and while it is a cliffhanger ending it didn't force me to grab the next book (it will happen just not immediately).

 

My Review: For some reason I found myself setting this book aside for others, I don't know if it was the pacing or if it just wasn't in the mood for this style of book. It was still an enjoyable read, just not as much as the first book.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

Classic Love Poems
Burn by Maya Banks (After Dark)
Otter In Space by Adam Garton (Bedtime Story)

 

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Sonnets = 3pts
Burn = 3pts
Daughter of Earth & Sky = 3pts
Searching for Someday = 5pts
Big Book of Space = 1pt
Servicing the Target = 3pts


 

Currently Reading:

Searching for Perfect - Print - on page 23 of


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Port - Mount TBR/ Reading Across the States
Friday Night Lights by HG Bissinger - Mount TBR/ Reading Across the States
Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas - Mount TBR/ Series Challenge
Searching For Series by Jennifer Probst - Mount TBR/ Audio/ Series Challenge
 

Total Points Earned
 235 points + 18 points earned - 15 points for children's book= 253 points

Pages Read/ Time Listened
38,936 pages read (1,097 read this week)
129:11 listening time (11:03 listened to this week)

Books Added to Shelves

What Pet Should I Get by Dr. Seuss - 15 Points Spent
Warrior's Bride by Geri Russell - Bookbub Freebie

Interesting Tidbits on the Web:



 



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Things have perked up a little bit, after making some changes in our daily routines and having some chats with Munchkin, we seem to have a little more of an understanding.  Granted he hasn't been sleeping as well so there has been a lack of sleep but we keep pushing through. Hubby has also stepped up to help out a little more and is giving me a hand until I can get my stress level under control a little more. This has allowed me to catch up on projects, chores and take a little bit of me time.

This week however will be much more busy with much less reading time. Today is a holiday here in RI so I get the day off, but so does Munchkin but Hubby does not, so not a whole lot of reading will fit into the day. I also have a bridal shower, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and a wedding all to squeeze in this week. We area also hoping to finish up our big construction project, then it will be time to start the clean up of the basement and yard for Munchkin's Birthday! Gosh he is going to be 3 already!

Fun with Munchkin: Index Card a Day Wraps Up

I have decided to add a new post to my list of things that could happen on the weekends.  As part of my resolutions for 2015, I wanted to do more fun things with Munchkin and as a family.  I will be posting sporadically about some of the fun adventures we are having together.

 

 

So if you remember I posted back in June about the Index Card a Day Art Challenge I was doing with Munchkin (if not you can see the post HERE). The challenge was hosted by Yellow Daisy, and it is a challenge to make an index art card each day through June and July.  Neither myself or Munchkin were very good about keeping up with doing one each day but we would do several in a single day.  We didn't manage to make the full amount of cards but I managed 42 of the 61 cards and he made 22 cards (which I was surprised that he continued to stay focused and wanting to make them).

 

 

Here are a few of our favorites we made (if you want to see all of them just check out our dedicated Pinterest Board).  We did have a lot of fun making these and I think it would be fun to see my art style develop and to see how Munchkin develops over the years as well!

 

 

Munchkin's Index Cards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Munchkin really loved stamping and watercolor painting.  I don't think I got pictures of all his watercolor ones, but he would sit for an hour just painting card after card and then wanted to give them to his favorite people. I think I will keep this idea in my back pocket, especially come Christmas time, he can make his own cards.

 

 

My Index Cards:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

I really enjoyed practicing with my inks and stamps, especially the distress inks (trying to find the perfect sunset blend) and my water color pencils. There were so many other things I wanted to try like sewing on paper, embossing powder, etc. but I can always keep going.